Madras HC issues notice to SII, others over petition alleging adverse reaction after Covishield jab

The volunteer had alleged that he suffered adverse reaction after taking the vaccine a few months ago

Admitting a petition filed by a volunteer who participated in the clinical trial of Covishield alleging adverse reaction after taking a jab of the Covid-19 vaccine, the Madras High Court on Friday issued notices to the Union Health Minister, Serum Institute of India, a popular medical college in Chennai, and three others.

The volunteer had alleged that he suffered an adverse reaction after taking the vaccine a few months ago, and had sent a notice to the SII, which manufactured the vaccine in India. With no response from the Institute, the volunteer has now moved the Madras High Court seeking damages of Rs 5 crore and to declare the Covishield vaccine as “unsafe.”

The court, which admitted the petition filed by a 41-year-old independent business consultant, issued notices to Union Health Secretary, Drugs Controller General of India, ICMR, SII, Astra Zeneca UK, and Sri Ramachandra Medical University where the trials took place in October. The case will be heard on March 26.

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In his petition, the volunteer asked the court to declare Covishield as “not safe” and directed the SII to pay him compensation and damage of Rs 5 crores “or any other amount as decided by the court” including the medical and legal cost for all the “suffering and trauma” that he and his family underwent.

Narrating his experience, the petitioner said he was administered the vaccine on October 1, 2021 and that there was no adverse reaction for the first 10 days. “But on October 11, 2020, I woke up at 5.30 am with a very severe headache and went back to sleep. My wife tried to wake me up at 9 a.m. but I did not get up nor speak with her. I did not have breakfast and kept repeating that I was having severe headache and went back to sleep,” the petitioner narrated.

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At the hospital, where his wife took him, the petitioner said the doctor suggested a CT-Scan and MRI. “In a country like India where majority of the population are in rural areas and innocent about any side effect that vaccine could produce, it is an important duty of the 1st and 2nd Respondents (Health Ministry and the Drugs Controller General of India) to grant approval for the administration of vaccine on the innocent population only after it is proved that the vaccine is safe,” he said.

He also contended that the vaccine was not safe and that it could produce serious side effects. “Therefore the balance of convenience is in favour of stopping the administration of continuance of vaccines to the public. Hence it is prayed that the Hon’ble Court may be pleased to grant an interim injunction” restraining the authorities from administering the vaccine.